By Bimal Rajkomar
Daily Bruin Reporter
Physiology Professor Michael H. Chase surrendered to authorities
on Wednesday to face charges that he embezzled $735,000 in public
funds.
The charges filed on Tuesday by the Los Angeles District
Attorney include one count of misappropriation of public funds and
one count of grand theft by embezzlement.
If convicted, Chase could face up to six years in prison. He
will be arraigned Jan. 17 at the Los Angeles Superior Court.
Chase is accused of funneling university funds to his sister and
former live-in girlfriend. He plans to fight the charges, according
to Chase’s lawyer, Charles C. Wehner.
“It was all legitimate and Dr. Chase was appropriately
paid for work he properly did,” Wehner told the Associated
Press.
Colleagues said they were surprised at the allegations brought
against the well-regarded researcher who received the 1999 Sleep
Research Society Distinguished Scientist Award.
“I knew he was an extremely respected scientist,”
said Professor of Physiology John Tormey who said he didn’t
know Chase well. “I find it hard to believe its
true.”
The criminal case comes after an investigation by UCLA auditors
who raised questions about large sums of money given to two
event-planning firms that organized, for Chase, conferences on the
effects of drugs and alcohol on driving.
Internal auditors found that the fees given to the event
planners were well in excess of the actual costs, and that the
event-planning firms were separately owned by Chase’s sister
and his then-girlfriend, according to the university.
University policy prohibits employees from contracting the
services of any near relatives, unless the services are not
available from other commercial sources.
The university filed a civil case to recover the money allegedly
overpaid to the companies but settled the case for $750,000.
The district attorney initially rejected the case but after a
reinvestigation decided to file charges.
The district attorney initially recommended that bail be set at
$25,000 but did not object when the defendant asked to be released
on his own recognizance.
Chase, a tenured professor, is scheduled to teach a class next
quarter unless the Academic Senate ousts him for violations of the
Faculty Code of Conduct.
With reports from My Yen La, Daily Bruin Contributor, and Daily
Bruin Wire Services.